ANOTHER person of interest in the October 3 killing of veteran radio commentator Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa is in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.
The individual arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday night from Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. He was escorted on the plane by Bureau of Corrections officers who then turned him over to waiting NBI operatives upon arrival at the NAIA Terminal 3.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and the NBI were mum on the identity of the individual although sources said he came from the Iwahig prison and penal farm in Palawan.
Earlier, the Philippine National Police said they have identified around 160 persons of interest in the murder of Lapid.
At least eight of them are now in government custody.
On Wednesday, Lapid’s brother Roy Mabasa said the Department of Justice is close to identifying the mastermind in the ambush-slay as names were mentioned during his meeting with Remulla and NBI officials. He said authorities will make an announcement in “one, two or three days.”
Remulla on late Wednesday said murder charges will be filed against those behind the killings of Lapid and Jun Villamor, an inmate at the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
Villamor was tagged as middleman in the murder of Mabasa by self-confessed gunman Joel Escorial who also named as his cohorts brothers Israel and Edmon Dimaculangan, and one alias Orly or Orlando. The Dimaculangans and Orly/Orlando remain at large.
Escorial surrendered on October 17 and was presented by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos the following day.
Hours after Escorial appeared in public, Villamor was found dead at the national penitentiary. An autopsy conducted by the NBI showed Villamor could have died of natural causes. An independent autopsy conducted by top forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun showed Villamor “died from suffocation by means of a plastic bag over his head.”
Fortun’s finding is more conclusive than the NBI autopsy which did not give a specific cause of death.
